The high profile campaign to try and save free instrumental music services in Scotland has reached the Scottish Parliament, with an impassioned presentation made by campaigners to its Public Petitions Committee.

Presentation

The petition asking for Instrumental Music Services to become a statutory obligation was heard at Holyrood on 13th September, and was expertly presented by Ralph Riddiough, Alison Reeves and Mick Cooke of the pop group Belle and Sebastian.

They asked for consideration and potential action to be taken to change current legislation allowing individual local authorities to charge for musical instrument tuition, so that it would become available as of right to all children attending state schools who wish it, free of charge.

Not fair

In his presentation, Ralph Riddiough argued that the policies had resulted in a 50% reduction in specialist music teacher numbers and that, "…it was not right that children have to pay for their music education in Scotland."

He went on to say that, "...it was not equitas, not fair, not consistent, and should be a matter of grave concern to the Scottish Parliament."

In highlighting costs that ranged from £170 to over £500 a year in different areas of the country, he said that a change in the law would address the lack of fairness and lack of equity across Scotland.

He added: "Fees are a barrier to education. Schools should not be seeking customers for their services, they should be providing lessons for free to all children. Fees in state schools are wrong."

Sympathetic response

Although the arguments were generally met with a sympathetic response from committee members, led by Chairperson Johann Lamont MSP, it was noted that if a potential investment of £30 million was to be made, that other essential services would possibly have to be cut to meet the cost.

Addressing the petitioners, MSP Liz Smith said that before the Parliamentary recess she had "…heard much the same thing from many of your colleagues"including the renowned trumpeter John Wallace.

And although she felt there was "…no lack of political will on this and that it was not a party political issue,"she did state that, "the blame game between politicians was not helpful".

Fees are a barrier to education. Schools should not be seeking customers for their services, they should be providing lessons for free to all children. Fees in state schools are wrong Ralph Riddiough

Cut backs

She went on to add: "I think we need far more than £30 million because the potential demand in this area is actually very considerable.

If we have to find the money to do this, would we have to muddle along with cutbacks to other services which would not be very popular, and would politicize the debate, or is there scope to find additional funding from other sources."

Watch presentation

To watch the presentation go to:
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgxvzKbRJHMQxbVQZgZmHNFLWntTq?projector=1